Bearing clutch



Dec. 18,1945. E. P. S-CHMIDT I 2,391,350

BEARING CLUTCH Filed July 28, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec.v 18, 1945. E. P. SCHMIDT BEARING CLUTCH Filed July 28, 1945' s Sheets-Sheet 2 M r m 3 W6 J W l S k f W Dec. 18, 1945- E. P. SCHMIDT I 2,391,350

4 BEARING CLUTCH 7 Filed J l '28, 1945 s SheerLs-Sheet a v v 7 Even 07" :55 J4" I x y qwyi/ag Patented Dec. 18,1945

PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATE 15 Claims;

The invention relates generally to clutches and, has reference more particularly to a combination bearing and clutch of improved design and which can be constructed to form an over-running clutcn Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating a modification wherein the clutching elements comprise a roller and a plurality of balls;

ing a construction of the stop-and-go clutch coming within the invention;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view illustrat- 66 Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the stop-and-go clutch of Figure '7 in comor a manually actuated type of stop-and-go 5 bination with manually actuated control means clutch. therefor and i An object of the invention'isto provide a clutcn Figure s a op n V P s being Shown that can be combined th a bearing member to in section, of the combination structure of Figform a combination bearing and clutch device. '6 I l Another object is to provide a clutch which will 10 The combination roller bearing and clutch h utility as an (Wm-running type f clutch or vice illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 embodies the as a manually actuatedtype and which will enmi basic principles of the invention in an overrunning hate the use of springs as controlling means for or free wheeling typeeof apparatus- The drive the clutch members. shaft is indicated by numeral I0, said shaft being A furth Object -of t invention is to'provide driven in both a clockwise and counterclockwise a bearing clutch which will be positive in both its dlrfiictmn 9 mflians The c011 clutching and releasing operations and which will Inner rmg 1S 5111mm? keyed as at the be simple in construction embodying relatively Shaft so t the inner rmg i shaft rotate few parts gether. Said inner ring I 1 provides a raceway 7 l3 Another object is to provide a bearing clutch extending me outer penphfary- The wherein the clutching elements are carried by the her retamm? the bemngs and clutch bearing retainer or cage so that the combined elements compnses g havmg the Shape. of device functions as a bearing when the clutch an annulus and recesses faxberidmg members e in declutched position transversely for receiving the roller bearings idenwith these and various other objects in View, tified by numeral l6. A plate member I! of ring the invention may consist of certain novel fea- .shapq is secured to the i by the screws and tures of construction and operation as will be more thls tmanner the Pff g pgi fully described and particularly pointed out in the e p 5 to presen y I f g d g d S m specification, drawing and claims appended hererecess m the cage qu m extends around the cage M, the sald ring also pro- In the drawings which illustrate an embodigg i i z ff l z gi g gf i $1 31iiii-ZTrc LZ tsil i fii iikl iirfi g f gg g g g g gg g gm qggfe I v e r1 ng s a y c my one preferred arrangement of clutching elements rptafte in cl-ockwlse dlrectmn wlthout lmpartmg and roller bearing? snnilar rotation to the outer ring 20 However,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View counterclockwise rotation of shaft l0 immediately renders the clutching elements operative to couple through the bearing clutch of F 1 showlPg 40 the inner and outer ring to form a unitary device 'P the clutch elements and hearings as comprls' and accordingly said counterclockwise rotation of 3 1 shaft I0 is transmitted to the outer ring 20. If for Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View showmg any reason the speed of rotation of outer ring 20 in detail the clutching elements of F gur 1; should exceed that of drive shaft HI the present Figure 4 is another detail sectional-view showclutching elements will permit fre wheeling or ing a modification wherein the clutch rollers have overrunning of the said outer ring 'the same diameter; The clutching elements shown in Figure 1, 2

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view illustrat-. and 3 comprise pairs of rollers 22 and 23, each 'ing another preferred arrangement of clutchin pair located within a passageway 24 in the cage elements and roller bearings; IA formed by the parallel walls 25 and 2B. The

outer roller 23 has a larger diameter than the inner roller 22. It will also be noted that each passageway formed-by the parallel walls 25 and 26 is angularly disposed. with respect to a radial i e passing through the center of shaft I ll. Each passageway forms an angle of several degrees with respect to said radial line, the angle of in: clination being such that the inner opening to the passageway is toward clockwise rotation. As a result the inner rollers 22 may :be described as located in advance of roller 23 when clockwise rotation is considered. The passages for retaining the clutching elements are formed in the cage i4 transversely thereof and the plate member serves to close said passages in the same manner as said plate member closes the recesses for the roller bearings it. The inner rollers 22 have contact with raceway |3 provided by the inner ring,

whereas, the outer rollers 23 will have contact with the raceway 21 provided by the outer ring. Although rollers 23 have a diameter greater than the inner rollers 22, nevertheless the diameter of both rollers is less than the width of their passageway 24 so that said rollers may have some freedom of movement within their passageway.

In Figure 3 a pair of clutching elements are shown in the position which they assume when the shaft in rotates ina clockwise direction.

With shaft ill rotating in this direction the inner' degrees. The magnitude of this angle is important since it must be large enough to permit the clutching rollers to assume a declutched position, in which case the outer roller 23 does not contact the raceway 2| of the outer ring. However, if the angle above referred to is too large the elements will not be satisfactorily moved into a clutching position when the shaft I0 is reversed to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

When shaft I0 is rotatedin a counterclockwise direction the cage ll, due to frictional contact of. the roller bearings It with the raceway |3, will also tend to move in this direction. This action of the cage will force the inner rollers 22 under their respective outer rollers 23.- The frictional contact of the rollers 22 with raceway l3 also tends to move the rollers under their outer rollers 23. A line joining the center of said, rollers will thereupon substantially coincide with the axis 0-0 and it will be observed that the outer rollers 23 are thus caused to contact the raceway'2l. This constitutes the clutching position of the rollers and the outer ring will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction since said outer ring, cage and inner ring are operatively connected by the clutching rollers to form a unitary structure. Axis C-C forms anangle of approximately seven d rees with respect to the radius X- -X.

When the parts of the present clutch are operatively connected to constitute a unitary structure it will of course be understood that the rollers l8 cease to function as bearing members. However,

in the declutched position the clutch elements function of providing an anti-friction bearing between the inner and outer rings which is suitable for high speed operation.

With each pair of clutching rollers in an inoperative position, such as shown in Figure 3, the

line joining the centers of bothrollers is perpen- Axis D-D forms an angle 'with the radius XX which is greater than seven and the roller bearing l8 fulfill the verydesirable 'ing elements.

dicular to the tangent at their point of contact and said line coincides with the axis DD. The space required for the rollers is therefore less than the distance between'raceway l3 and raceway 2| and thus the outer ring is declutched from the inner ring and shaft l0. counterclockwise rotation of the inner ring imparts sufiicient movement to the cage I4 so that the cage forces the inner roller 22 under its respective roller 23', thereby forcing roller 23 into contact with raceway 2|. The outer ring is thereupon clutched to the inner ring and shaft in and the parts rotate in a counterclockwise direction as a unit. In Figure 1 the cage I 4 is shown as having six roller bearings and three pairs of clutching elements. For most constructions it has been found that this number of clutching elements gives satisfactory results. However, in the event heavy loads are to be handled by the clutch device, it is within the purview of the invention to increase the number of clutch- Said elements can be increased, using the same number of bearing rollers, or the bearing rollers can be reduced in order to make room for said additional clutching capacity.

In the modification of Figure 4, the clutching rollers 30 and 3| have the same diameter and the passageway retaining said rollers has diverging side walls instead of parallel side walls as described in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3. The side walls 32 and 33 diverge in a direction toward the shaft In so that the opening to the passageway on the inside periphery of the cage I4 is larger than the opening on the outer periphery. Roller 3|] therefore has freedom of movement as described with respect to roller 22.

The passageway, as clearly shown in Figure 4, has

. fore does not impart rotation to the outer ring 20.

However, when shaft H1 is rotated in a clockwise direction the action of cage I4 is such as to force roller 30 under roller 3| and the parts are automatically clutched so that they rotate as a unit.

In the modification of Figure 5 a bearing roller and a pair of clutching elements are retained within a common passageway, provided in the cage. Each passageway 35 has an .arcuate wall 36 and a flat wall 31. A roller bearing I6 is located in the right .end of each passageway so as to be received by the arcuate wall IS. The clutch rollers are located on the other side of each roller bearing and the outer roller 23 of large diameter is in contact with wall 31. The inner roller may be described as located between rollers l6 and 23, having suflicient freedom of movement so as to occupy either a clutched or declutched position.

The roller bearing and clutch device of Figure 5' functions in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3. When shaft l0 rotates in a clockwise direction the cage ll likewise rotates in this direction but at a slower speed due to the frictional engagement ofthe inner ring with the roller bearings Ii. The roll- .made in two parts to provide aaonsoo clutch these parts so that the counterclockwise movement of shaft I is imparted to the outer and its action in effecting a clutching and declutching operation is also the same. However,

. 55 are at a slight angle.

in Figure 6 the inner roller has been replaced by a plurality of hardened steel balls identified by numeral 40. These balls have a diameter similar to the inner roller 22 and their action on the outer roller 23 is the same as described. Therefore the clutching elements, in accordance with the present invention, may comprise a pair of rollers of diflerent diameters as is the case in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or a pair of rollers of the same diameter as shown in Figure 4. Hardened steel balls can be substituted for the inner roller in both instances and a similar substitution can be made for the inner clutching element 22 of Figure 5.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 the basic principles of the invention are incorporated in a stop-and-go clutch which can be actuated manually by means of a collar loosely mounted on the driving shaft 50. The inner ring is suitably keyed to shaft 50 as at 52'so that the ring rotates with said shaft. Said inner ring is provided with a raceway 53 on its outer periphery and a cage has surrounding relation with said raceway. 'The cage includes an inner annulus 54 and an outer annulus 55 having a close machined fit on the inner annulus permitting relative movement. The cage retains the bearing rollers 55 suitably held within recesses by the plate member 51 of ring shape, which is secured to the outer annulus 55 to form a channel which in turn receives the inner annulus in the manner as shown in Figure 8. The plate member 51 also holds the'clutching elements within their passageways provided therefor'in'the cage. An

' outer ring 60 extends around the cage, said ring for the roller bearings 56. v The clutching elements each comprise an inner roller 52 and an outer roller 63. said rollers in this modification are shown as having diflerent diameters although the invention is not restricted to this particular construction. The

providing a raceway Bl inner roller 52 is retained within a passageway formed in the inner annulus 54, whereas, roller 53 is retained within a passageway formed in the outer annulus 55. The passageways for the clutch rollers in this modification have a width just slightly in excess of the diameters of the rollers. It is not necessary for them to have freedom of movement within their particular passageway since relative movement between the inner and outer rollers is provided for by the fact that the cage is in two parts. The normal alignment of the clutching rollers is such that the inner roller 62 is in advance of its outer roller 63 with respect to a clockwise direction of rotation. The amount of advance determines the clutching and declutching position of the. rollers.

The cage of the present s'top-and-go clutch is for control of the clutch so that the same/can be manually rendered operative or inoperative. This control is effected by movement of the annulus 55 with re 1 spect to annulus 54. As shown in Figures'8 and 9, the annulus 54 is provided with several longitudinal grooves 64 each extending from one side to the opposite side of the said irmer annulus and which are formed in its outer periphery. The

inner periphery of annulus 55 is formed with simaxis of shaft 50. A groove 65 is located in substantial alignment with groove 54. Grooves 65 are never completely aligned with the grooves 64 since the latter are parallel to the axis of shaft 50, whereas,'grooves A control member in the form of a collar 65 is rotatably mounted on shaft 50, said collar being mounted on the shaft to permit free movement in an axial direction as well as rotation independently of the shaft. Axial movement of collar 65 toward or away from the stop and go clutch is eilected by members 51. A plurality of, fingers extend laterally from the collar and each finger has location within a groove 84. Each finger carries a roller and which is located in a groove 65.

'In Figures 8 and 9 the fingers 68 of the consume a position wherein roller 62 of the clutching elements is advanced a considerable amount with respect to roller 63, considering shaft 50 as rotating in a-clockwise direction. As previously explained. the amount of advance determines the so that the driving member rotates counterclutching and declutching position of said elements. Therefore when the fingers 68 are moved inwardly in a direction toward the left, Figure 8, rollers I0 riding within the grooves have the effect of moving annulus 55 with respect to annulus 54, said movement being, in a direction to decrease the advance of roller 62. In other words, the annulus 55 is moved clockwise which decreases the advance position of rollers 62 and thus forces the elements into clutching relation with the raceways 53 and BI on the inner and outer ring respectively; With the parts in clutched relation they rotate as a unitary structure.

In all forms of the invention the clutching 'elements are retained by the cage of the frictionless bearing member and said member operates in a conventional manner to reduce friction between therotating parts when the clutching elements are in declutched relation. The present device thus constitutes a combination bearing and clutch and which may be embodied in an over-running type of apparatus or in a manually actuated type of stop-and-go clutch. The clutching elements are instantly rendered operative to-clutch the inner and outer rings when the driving member is rotated in a certain direction and a major advantage of the present type of clutch residesin the elimination of springs as regards the clutching elements.

Another major improvement resides in the fact that the direction of rotation" of the driving member for effecting a clutching relation can be either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the manner in which the cage is assembled with respect to the inner and outer rings. In the drawings the apparatus has been illustrated clockwise for efiecting a clutching relation. This can be reversed merely by reversing the cage. It is also possible for the inner and outer rings to be either the driving or driven member.

The efficiency of the present type of clutch depends to a certain extent on its design, particularly the design of the passageways for the clutching elements. Said design includes the particular angular relation which a passageway has with the shaft radius, the parallel or diverging relation of the walls, and their width for the particular clutch elements to be retained thereby. It has been previously explained that the angle formed by axis D-D with respect to the radius is an important matter of design and likewise the angle formed by the axis C,C is important. These factors and also the clearance required for the clutching elements, so that they have some freedom of movement, must be calculated to a high degree of accuracy in any practical design of'the present type of combination bearing and clutch.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clutch device of the character described, the combination with inner and outer concentric rings having raceways on their adjacent peripheries, one ring being adapted to be driven whereas the other ring comprises the driving member, of an anti-friction bearing located between'the inner and outer rings and including a cage retaining a plurality of rolling means havingrolling contact with the raceways provided by the rings, and clutching devices also retained by said cage', said clutching devices each comprising a pair of elements having rolling contact with each other and being disposed adjacent the raceways provided by the inner and outer rings, respectively.

2. In a clutch device of the character described, the combination with inner and outer concentric rings having raceways on their adjacent peripheries, one ring being adapted to be driven whereas the other ring comprises the driving member, of

- cated between the said rings and including a cage retaining rolling means having rolling contact with the said raceways, said cage having a plurality of transverse angular passageways in spaced relation around the cage, a clutching device in each passageway for clutching the outer ring to the inner ring when rendered operative, whereby the said rings and bearing rotate with the shaft as a unit, and each clutching device comprising a pair of elements having rolling contact with each other when in declutched relation and being disposed adjacent the raceways provided by the inner and outer rings respectively, said elements being adapted to engage their respective raceway an anti-friction bearing located between the inner and outer rings and including a cage retaining a plurality of rolling means having rolling contact with the raceways provided by the rings, a plucage, said clutching devices each comprising a pair or elements of less diameter than said rolling means and having rolling contact with each other when in declutched relation, one element being disposed adjacent the raceway of the inner ring and the other element being disposed adjacent the raceway of the outer ring, and said elements being adapted to engage their respective raceway i'or clutching purposes.

3. In a bearing clutch, in combination, concentric inner and outer rings one of which constitutes rality of clutching devices also retained by the the driven and the other the driving instrumentality, the adjacent peripheries of said rings providing raceways, an anti-friction bearing located between the said rings, said bearing including a cage retaining rolling means having rolling -conior clutching purposes.

5. In a bearing clutch, in combination, a shaft having an inner ring fixed thereto, an outer concentric ring in spaced relation with respect to said inner ring, said rings providing raceways on their adjacent peripheries, an anti-friction bearing located between the said rings and including a cage retaining rolling means having rolling contact with the said raceways, said cage comprising an annulus having a plurality of passageways extending from its inner periphery toits outer periphery and each being disposed at an angle with respect to a radius of said shaft, a clutching device in each passageway for clutching the outer ring to the inner ring when renderedoperatlve, whereby the said rings and bearing rotate with the shaft as a unit, each clutching device comprising a pair of elements having rolling contact with each other when in declutched relation, one element being disposed adjacent the raceway of the inner ring and the other element being disposed adjacent the raceway of the outer ring, and said elements being adapted to engage their respective raceway for clutching purposes.

6. In a bearing clutch as defined by claim 3 wherein the rolling means retained by the cage comprise rollers, and each clutching device comprises a pair of rollers.

'7. In a bearing clutch as defined by claim 4 wherein the rolling-means retained by the cage comprise rollers, and each clutching device comprises a pair of rollers with the roller disposed adjacent the raceway of the outer ring having a larger diameter than the roller disposed adjacent the raceway of the inner ring.

8. In a bearing clutch as defined by claim 5 wherein therolling means retained by the cage comprise rollers, and each clutching device comprises a pair of rollers.

9. In a bearing clutch, incombination, a shaft having an inner ring fixed thereto, an outer concentric ring in spaced relation with respect to said inner ring, said rings providing raceways on their adjacent peripheries; an anti-friction bearing located between the said rings and intact with the said raceways, a plurality of clutching devices also retained by the cage in transverse angular passageways, each clutching device comprising a pair of elements having rolling contact with each other when in declutched relation, and

said elements engaging the raceways provided by the inner and outer rings, respectively, when in clutching relation.

4. In a bearing clutch, in combination, a shaft having an inner ring fixed thereto, an outer concentric ring in spaced relation with respect to said inner ring, said rings providing raceways on their adjacent peripheries, an anti-friction bearing lo-' eluding a cage in the form of an annulus having reecsses retaining rolling means, said cage having a plurality of transverse annular passageways extending from its inner periphery to its outer periphery and each passageway having diverging walls in a direction toward the inner ring, a clutching device in each'passageway comprising rollers of approximately the same diametrical size, said rollers having rolling contact with each other when in declutched relation, and one roller being disposed adjacent the raceway'of the inner ring and the other roller being disposed adjacent the raceway of the outer ring,

10. In a bearing clutch, in combination, inner and outer concentric rings having raceways on their adjacent peripheries, a bearing member 10.

frictionless rotation, prising a two-part cage retaining rolling means andouter elements to the elements or the outer annulus and the other roller being dispos d adjacent the raceway of the cated between said rings whereby either ring may rotate with respect to the other ring with substantially frictionless rotation, said bearing member comprising a two-part cage retaining rolling means and clutching devices, an inner annulus forming one art of said cage and an outer annulus forming the second part, and said clutching devices each including a pair of elements, one element of each pair being retained by the inner annulus and the other element or each pair being retained by the outer annulus.

11. In a bearing clutch, in combination, inner and outer concentric rings having raceways on their adjacent peripheries, a bearing member located between said rings whereby either may rotate with respect to the other with substantially said bearing member comand clutching device, an inner annulus forming ing the second part inner annulus such as to permit I tion, said clutching devices each including inner arranged in pairs, one elebeing retained by the outer by the inner merit of each pair annulus, and the elements retained v or inoperative.

25 also retaining clutching annulus having an advanced position in relation with respect to a certain direction of rotation.

12. In a bearing clutch as defined by claim 11,

wherein the rolling means retained by the twopart cage comprises rollers and wherein each clutching device comprises a adapted to have-rolling contact with each other when in declutched relation with one roller dis posed adjacent the raceway of t or each pair being pair of rollers the inner ring outer ring.

13. In a bearing clutch as wherein means are provided for controlling the extent or the advanced"position of the elements of the inner annulus in relation to the elements of the outer annulus whereby the clutching device can be rendered operative or inoperative.

14. In a bearing clutch as defined by claim 11 wherein means areprovided to control relative movement 4 case whereby the advanced position of the ele. ments retained by the inner annulus in relation to the elements of the outer annulus may be varied to render 15. In a bearing clutch, m' combination, inner and outer concentric rings having raceways on their adjacent peripheries, a bearing member located between said rings whereby either may rotate with respect tially frictionless rotation,

said bearing member retaining rollers havand saidtwo-part cage devices for clutching and inner and outer rings when rendered operative, an inner annulus'forming one part or said cage and an outer annulus formi g the second part, and said clutching devices h including a pair of rollers, one roller I adjacent the raceway provided by the inner'ring and the other roller 0! each pair being retained by the outer annulus and adjacent the raceway provided by the outer ring.

' EDWARD SCHMID and dis osed defined by claim 11 the clutchingdevices operative to the other with substan retained by the inner annulus 

